The GEN-E-SIS Challenge

Technology Services announced plans for the new Geneva College Electronic Student Information System (GEN-E-SIS) to the campus community during the Annual Prayer Breakfast on Friday, August 19, 2011. Replacing the current administrative software systems, the new comprehensive student information system (SIS) will be Windows-based and provide a greatly increased World Wide Web presence for students, faculty and staff.

"The GEN-E-SIS Challenge will affect everybody in the campus community who uses a computer," said Systems Analyst and Programmer Linda Ford.

"One of the major benefits will be the implementation of an integrated system that will eliminate the need for duplicate data," said Leslie Sidwell, Director of Administrative Computing. Currently, the administrative offices use one of four different software packages. Much time and effort is necessary to build and maintain "bridges" between these packages. With a new integrated SIS, an addition or revision to data would only need to be made once and would be immediately available to all system users.

In addition to faculty and staff, the SIS will provide an improved experience for students as well. "Viewing grades, ordering transcripts and web registration for classes-from prospective students to alumni, our students and graduates will be able to do so much more than they can do now," according to IT Client Support Specialist Brenda Lichius.

Implementation of the SIS will begin this fall with documentation of the processes and procedures of each department on campus. "We will meet with every department to find out what they do and what they would like to do so that we can be sure the new system will meet everyone′s needs," explained Lichius. "All users will have input in how the new system will be set up."

Following the assessment process, requirements for the new SIS will be compiled and a project team will then be established to evaluate different systems and select an appropriate systems solution for Geneva. From the department process identification beginning this fall to the eventual final system implementation, the entire project is expected to take at least three years.

The goal of the GEN-I-SIS Challenge is to identify better ways for the campus community to use technology, determine ways to improve departmental support and discover the community′s most immediate needs while planning for the future. And as System Analyst Vickie Leininger suggested, "We are empowering the users. This process provides an opportunity to bring people on campus together."